Pink Frosted Soft Sugar Cookies

• 3 Cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/4 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 cup butter or (1/2 butter -1/2 non-hydrogenated shortening)
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together and cut the butter into them, then mix in the eggs and extracts. Mix until a soft dough forms. Roll out on a lightly floured surface about 1/4 inch thick and cut with heart shaped cutters. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for about 8 minutes for small hearts and about 11 minutes for large. Watch them and don’t over bake- remove when just set through. Remove to a rack to cool completely before frosting.

Browned Butter Frosting

• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup hot water
• a couple of drops of red food coloring, keep it pale and pretty
• pink sanding sugar (optional)

Brown the butter in a small saucepan over low heat until it is golden brown. Add remaining ingredients using a little more or less to get a spreadable consistency. Add the coloring slowly just until you get a pretty pink – keep it pale. If the frosting hardens a bit you can rewarm it over low heat. Frost the cooled cookies. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar if desired.